Herdling Review – A Relaxing Game with Cute Animals and Nice Visuals

In a gaming landscape full of explosions and long dialogues, Herdling, by developer Okomotive (known for “Far: Lone Sails” and “Panic”) and published by Panic (the same as “Firewatch”), emerges as a brave and contemplative experience. The game embraces the power of silence, replacing cutscenes and text with a deeply emotional environmental narrative, where the connection with its herd of mystical creatures, the Calicorns, is the true protagonist. More than just a puzzle or adventure game, Herdling is an interactive meditation on the themes of companionship, care and resilience, inviting the player on a serene yet meaningful journey towards the summit of an enigmatic mountain. This unique approach raises the question: is it possible to create a meaningful bond without a single spoken word?

Gameplay and Narrative: Depth in Simplicity

At the heart of Herdling, the mechanics are apparently simple: you are a shepherd whose mission is to guide and protect a flock of adorable creatures called Calicorns through a vast and sometimes dangerous world. Using a staff, the player issues basic commands – stop, accelerate, run or cause a stampede – to navigate treacherous terrain and avoid predators. The genius of the game, however, lies in the way these simple actions carry significant emotional weight.

Every choice matters. If a Calicorn gets hurt, you should collect berries to heal it. If they get scared, a cuddle calms their nerves. At night, when camping, you can clean the mud off their fur, a moment of care that strengthens the bond between the shepherd and his flock. These interactions, meticulously crafted, transform the gameplay from a mechanical task into an act of empathy. The narrative is not told through cutscenes, but emerges from these small shared moments. It’s a story that you live, not just watch, creating a sense of personal journey and intimacy that is rare in video games.

Despite the generally tranquil pace, Herdling introduces well-dosed sequences of tension, such as fleeing hunters or racing across crumbling terrain, breaking the meditation and testing your ability to command the group under pressure. The learning curve for the controls, especially steering the herd with the analog stick while holding down a trigger (such as R2), can be a little steep at first – a decision that paradoxically adds to the realism, as the herd really does seem to have a will of its own, veering off to explore or reacting out of fear. This “struggle” for control is not a defect, but a feature that reinforces the idea that you are dealing with living beings, not mere NPCs.

In addition to survival, Calicorns are an integral part of solving environmental puzzles. They can be used to push objects, open paths or activate mechanisms, integrating perfectly into exploration and showing that the relationship is symbiotic: you guide them and they help you progress.

Art Direction and Soundtrack: An Audiovisual Ode to Serenity

If Herdling ‘s gameplay is its heart, its audiovisual presentation is certainly its soul. The game adopts a painterly aesthetic that is reminiscent of a living, breathing digital painting. The settings – from verdant hills and misty valleys to icy cliffs – are rendered with a handcrafted softness that dispenses with photographic realism in favor of a dreamlike, inviting atmosphere. Each frame is a work of art, encouraging contemplative pauses just to enjoy the scenery, especially in the light of the setting sun. This artistic choice places Herdling comfortably alongside acclaimed titles such as Journey and The Pathless, which also prioritize tone and atmosphere above all else.

The Calicorns themselves are a triumph of animation and design. Little details – like the wiggle of their ears, their clumsy stumbles and the way they snuggle up to each other – inject them with a palpable vitality, transforming them from mere assets into genuine companions you care about protecting.

However, it’s in the soundtrack that the game really shines. The composition, punctuated by solitary piano pieces and subtle orchestral themes, is the emotional driver of the experience. In a game without dialogues, the music takes on the role of narrating the journey, rising dramatically during imminent dangers and receding into a serene calm during moments of peace. The environmental sound design is equally meticulous; the crunch of snow underfoot, the whisper of the wind and the soft grunts of the Calicorns create a layer of deep immersion. Playing with a headphone is not a recommendation, it’s a necessity in order to fully absorb the carefully constructed atmosphere.

Gaming as a Relaxation Tool (Gaming and Well-being)

In a modern scenario where anxiety and stress are constant companions, video games are increasingly being recognized not just as entertainment, but as escape valves and legitimate tools for mental well-being. In this context, Herdling is positioned not as a challenge to be overcome with sharp reflexes, but as a digital refuge, a meditative experience that emphasizes calm and presence. Its deliberately quiet and repetitive gameplay – the act of guiding, feeding and cleaning the creatures – acts as a grounding mechanism, anchoring the player in the present moment and dispelling the rumination of chaotic thoughts. The pace of the game is dictated by the needs of the herd, not by a ticking clock or a life bar about to run out, creating a natural flow that invites patience and observation, rather than pressure and instant reaction.

The very absence of dialog and the minimalist environmental narrative eliminate the need for constant linguistic processing, allowing the mind to rest and engage on a purely sensory and emotional level. The combination of the serene soundscape with its melancholic piano track and the ambient sounds of nature with visuals reminiscent of an impressionist painting in motion, creates a multi-sensory environment designed to reduce the heart rate and induce a state of relaxation. This is not a game to play with the television on mute or while listening to a podcast; it is a complete auditory and visual immersion, a form of digital ASMR that calms the nervous system.

Herdling operates in the same sphere as games like “Unpacking” or “Flower”, which see video games as more of an experience than a challenge. Its essence lies in caring, a deeply human act that generates a sense of purpose and satisfaction without the need for explosive rewards or competition. The bond that forms with the Calicorns is a form of digital biofeedback; success is not measured by points, but by the well-being of those virtual beings, creating a cycle of empathy and emotional reward that is intrinsically calming. It proves that the interactivity of games can be channeled not into excitement, but into tranquility, offering a safe and controlled space to decompress after an intense day.

The appreciation of seemingly mundane moments – such as stopping to watch the sunset with the herd around – is a conscious invitation to mindfulness, practicing mindfulness within a virtual universe. For many gamers, this experience serves as a digital break, an evening ritual to calm the mind before going to sleep, or a form of gentle transition between the stress of work and rest at home. Herdling therefore transcends the traditional definition of an entertainment product. It is an interactive instrument for mood management and a testament to the calming power of virtual worlds when designed with a clear intention of promoting peace, not agitation.

Final Verdict: A Unique and Essential Experience

Herdling is not a game for everyone. Its deliberately slow nature and lack of a traditional narrative may put off players looking for constant action. However, for those who appreciate emotional, atmospheric and meditative experiences, it’s a rare gem.

Lasting between 4 and 6 hours, it is a compact and linear journey, with few reasons to replay beyond collectibles and customizing the herd. Its true value lies in the unique experience it offers: a quiet refuge in the gaming world, a powerful reminder that bonds and stories can be forged in silence and simplicity.

Opinion;
Excellent, engaging and rewarding. Herdling is an easy recommendation for anyone who has Xbox Game Pass or is looking for a calming and deeply human experience. Proof that sometimes the quietest journey is the one that resonates most within us.

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